Abandon Chapter 2, an alexander fanfic

Title: Abandon

Author: Baliansword

Rating: M for sexual content and adult situations

Warnings: A/H

Chapter: 2 of unknown

Summary: Alexander betroths Hephaestion's half sister Myrihne to Cassander, despite Hephaestion's protests. Yet when Myrihne arrives in Babylon, Hephaestion questions whether distancing himself from Alexander was the right decision.

Tagline: Is blood thicker than water?

I awoke not to the sounds of the birds outside, but instead to the ramblings of a young page that had been sent to wake me. I do not know how long he spoke before I began to register that he was in my chambers, but I was indefinitely ignoring him. It had been a long time since I had slept in the nude and I was not embarrassed, not in front of a page, yet had it been another I might have taken it upon myself to pull a sheet over my nudity. Instead I rolled onto my side, pulling the sheet over my head, and bade the boy leave me to my sleep. However he was persistent, claiming that Alexander would kill him if he did not drag me to his chambers immediately, and I could no longer listen to his whining. As I opened my eyes and rubbed the sleep from them I noticed that he was dear looking, not quite as rigid as Alexander now was, nor as old as I now appeared. He had a youth about him, staring at me through his emerald eyes, and I knew by his dimples and the dark curls of hair that fell to his shoulders that he was from a Theban state. Attractive, but there would be no warmth in my bed. I had long since given such ideas up, not because I no longer held a desire for sex, but instead because I felt it for only one person that I was now incredibly distant from.

"Hand me that," I told him, pointing to the chitin that was carelessly thrown onto a sitting chair. He did as he was asked and brought it to me and I dressed, though I admit to taking my time. Though my protests of abandoning Alexander altogether were null in void, I was not going to rush upon him.

"What is so important," I asked the page as I entered the hallway with him at my side. As I did so I noted that the servants were making sure to keep their heads down, eyes to the floor as they'd long ago been taught. I also noted that many of the other generals were awake, the doors to their rooms open as servants cleaned up their messes from the night before. I knew by the smell of dew that I had not overslept, in fact, I would be the only one awake at such an hour.

"I do not know," the page informed me, carefully choosing his words which led me to believe that he knew more than he was willing to give away. Like most, he feared Alexander's wrath. However, like most he also trusted me more than he ever would his fearless King. "There is an old woman with him, blind, a seer perhaps."

"Perfect," I muttered as the guards stepped away from his doors and let me enter. They did not need to announce me because not only did they know that I was coming, but they still believed that I had full access to the king's rooms. He had seldom ever denied me, and even after the last of our fights he forgot to mention to them that I was no longer to enjoy his company. Upon entering I saw that the page was right, and a blind seer stood in Alexander's sitting room, holding on to her walking stick and mentioning something to him that I could not hear. I was not one for prophecy when I was young, and it had not grown upon me as I got older. Alexander, on the other hand, breathed legends and prophecies like mortal men breathe air.

"It is early for the Sight," I said, not to be rude but rather instead as a greeting to the old woman as I reached out and placed a gentle hand upon her shoulder. She seemed shocked by this and gasped, jerking her shoulder away. She must not have heard me approach. "Forgive me," I quickly apologized, "it was rude of me not to better announce myself."

"You need no introduction," Alexander insisted, motioning for me to sit down beside him. Sometimes I hated my obedience, but never in front of company. I sat down beside him, taking a handful of dried berries from the platter on the center table, deciding I might as well make a meal out of this. Whatever this woman had come to say, she'd come far. Her clothing was haggard and smelled of dust from travel, not from sleeping on the streets like most. What I hated most about the Sight was there is nothing factual to support the claims of those that say they have it. If something happens it could well be by coincidence, and if it does not they always say their warning changed the future. Blast it all, it ruined a perfectly good dream I was having.

"He is the one," the croon announced, pointing a frail bony finger at me, her white eyes blinking as I plopped a dried fig into my mouth. I swallowed and glanced at Alexander, who seemed slightly perturbed that I was eating. I could do nothing to please him anymore; I might as well get used to it.

She went on, "He is the man that I have asked of you to bring. Hephaestion Amyntor, son of Amyntor, general in Alexander's grand army."

"There has been a great warning," Alexander explained, filling me in as I finished the fruit in my hand and took a cup of water to wash it down with. "The seer has come across the sands to seek me out, to warn me about what she saw. Say again sister what you said to me."

"Under the protection of a king, a drop of blood will not be thicker than water. In the home of a king, a lover will be lost to darkness. The king will fall in sorrow, and the Empire will mourn the loss of a period of time."

I waited to listen for Alexander's next words, but instead he continued to look at her as if she'd just spoken words that would decide his fate. Yet for Alexander, these could very well be his fate spoken, since he believed in it so much. Sighing, I ran a hand through my bed-ridden hair and then leaned back. I was unsure of what he wanted for me to do at this point. He'd already heard this, and my opinion was very low to him. He motioned for the pages to come forward and escort her out, which they did. This left only Alexander and myself in the room, and he barred the door to keep others out.

"A lover will be lost to darkness," he said spastically, raking his hands together to try to calm himself down. I knew what he was thinking. He had already decided that the lover was no other than myself and that he, clearly, was the king. I smiled to myself, but decided that ignoring this would be the best course of action. However, he thought differently. This was the panic that Ptolemy had noted, and I knew this now as I watched him scratch the backs of his arms with his nails.

"Let it go," I advised, unsure if I was meant to speak, but I decided to do so. "There are a hundred old women that would line the halls of the palace to give you information, considering the rewards that you offer them. I know what you are thinking, and it does not mean that there is danger."

"I've already sent for your sister," he said, turning to face me. It was almost a slap in the face, had I not already suspected this. Alexander was no fool, but at times he underestimated those around him. He could attempt to keep this secret from me, and could have done a fine job had I not received the letter from Olympias that he had tried to intercept. The truth to pages is simple –they appreciate those who appreciate them. This is how the letter fell into my hands.

"I know," I told him, my voice trailing off. He turned to look at me and raised an eyebrow. He should have known by now that the letter had arrived, and worse, that I had possession of it. I do not know why, but I had burned it –perhaps to keep him from thinking his page had helped me- and he would never know what things Olympias had told me in secret.

"You know?"

"You have been unable to keep your secrets from me since I found out your first one," I answered, ignoring the look of disgust that he gave me. He seemed to appreciate my insight when it was for his betterment, for his snooping purposed, yet when they suited my own it seemed to be my own personal curse. Shaking his head he stopped the pacing that had once again taken over his thoughts and he plopped down on a couch across from me.

"I need to explain," he began, but after a moment he had stopped speaking entirely. Instead he ignored my presence and stared at a wall for a moment. Then, as if the wall spoke and reminded him that I was there, he turned his eyes back upon me. For the first time in months I felt as if he was actually looking at me –not the general, the man that spoke against him, but just as me, Hephaestion.

"How angry are you with me?"

"You will never change," I said, instead of giving him a direct answer. I did this on purpose, for he would have to listen to me this way. If I merely answered him I knew that he would let it go over his head completely and then he would forget I ever said anything at all. "You have done this since you were a boy. Offend those closest to you and only when they have left your presence, when they are about to throw away your friendship forever, do you ask if you have wronged us –or worse, you ask for us to judge how offended and wronged we are! For the gods should forbid my feelings to be trampled on!"

"I do not mean…"

"But you do," I shouted, cutting him off. "For years you tiptoed around the wishes of your father, around those of your mother, but it never mattered if you burned me. How angry am I with you, you ask? What do you want me to say? I am more insulted than hurt, I believe, insulted that my sister is not allowed to be defended by her brother. If this were your sister and I wanted to wed her off you would slap me, call me a fool, and then laugh about it over drinks with the other generals."

"I want her here because my mother is preparing to have her killed," he said quietly, and even through my belligerent screaming I could hear him. I stopped speaking, the fool I was, and stared at him. I felt suddenly cold, and I remained completely still as I stared at him, still unable to say anything. He raised an eyebrow and then reached forward, taking a cup of watered wine and drinking it, careless of the hour of the day.

"I found out three months ago," he went on after clearing his throat. "My mother has a lover. Can you believe it, a lover that is said to practice the dark spells of Hades? Of course you knew," he said after glancing at me for a quick second. "She fears that your sister has caught his eye, and wise as she is, she knows that the best way to stop a threat is to kill it. Myrihne trusts Olympias, so as you can imagine it was going to be quite easy for her. I was doing her a favor by bringing her here," he spat, standing and approaching the balcony. He did not step outside, but looked out nonetheless.

"I couldn't just bring her though, it would look too odd. So instead I approached Cassander, who you are right, has no intention of marrying. And I asked him to do me a favor, and moreover, to help you," he stated. "Cassander will marry her, will support and protect her, and all would be well. She would be free to find a lover if she wished, as he would…so it would be the very arrangement you fear. But you must believe me when I say that I was only trying to help, and," he added, "surprise you. I thought that seeing your sister after all of these years would please you."

"Why does she need to wed him?"

"Who would you rather me have chosen? Ptolemy, who thinks he is in love with that slave girl; he would marry her tomorrow if he felt the urge. Would you ask me to take his right to happiness away? Or how about Perdicass? Ajax? I could not do it to them, to any of the other Companions, and Aphrodite knows many of them are already escorting pregnant wives through the gardens. Cassander has no intention to wed, and your sister has a certain…"

"Reputation," I filled in for him rubbing my tired eyes. I had never wanted to fight with Alexander, and I definitely did not wish to fight with him now. As usual, his heart was in the right place, even if the ends did not justify the means. I stood and left him then, without even saying goodbye. I just started walking. I made my way back to my chambers where I flung the door shut and meandered to my bed, collapsing on it immediately. Sighing, I pulled a nearby sheet over my head. I would deal with the world later; others slept in on a daily basis so I might as well have the opportunity. However, I would be unable to sleep, which I soon found out.

"It would be better if you ignored whatever it is you are feeling," Cassander said, sitting in some corner of the room in secrecy, explaining why I had not seen him. For a moment I didn't want to move, but finally I rolled onto my back and sat up momentarily before collapsing back down again. He was like the rashes that men in the barracks got on these campaigns –they would be there from time to time, and when they weren't everyone was pleased, but they were unforgiving when they came back.

"She is yours," I told him, hoping he would leave. However, he did not move from his spot. Instead he stood up and came closer, noisily dragging a chair with him. Cursing under my breath I then said, "Go away; find some other to annoy."

"I only want to fuss over my moody brother-in-law," Cassander snorted, placing his boots on my bed, which subsequently put them on one of my knees. I muttered something but he was bust eating a piece of bread and cheese. I hoped he found it in my room, under the bed, covered in hair from Darius' most private areas…but it appeared fresh. Smirking, his most frustrating gesture, he leaned closer and placed a hand on my forehead –which I quickly pushed away.

"You sister is in good hands," he then told me, almost serious. "I'm really here to see you, for I am concerned. You are hurting morale, and the thing is I don't even think you've come to notice it yet."

"Alexander will be fine in a few days. He has heard a new reading of the Sight and it troubles him, like all of the others."

"Olympias will be coming to the wedding," Cassander then said, keeping my attention momentarily. "I wonder if she will bring this new beau of hers with her, the one they say your sister has ensnared between her legs. Oh, don't look harshly at me, I am only repeating the rumors that I have heard."

"Where do you hear such things," I resentfully spat, rolling away from him and covering my head with a pillow. It did not drown out the sound of him laughing.

"The couriers bring not only news, but rumors, Hephaestion Amyntor. I thought that you would suspect such a thing. Anyway, I heard it from that messenger that Ptolemy likes so well, you know, the one with the peculiar purple hued eyes. I forget his name; it does not matter that you do not know their names, they answer to anything that you call them. But he said that your sister is not as plain as Olympias would have others think. In fact, they say that she might be more beautiful because…well, never mind. We shall see soon enough. Yet the rumor, the rumor is that she killed her second husband and that she has crossed paths with this man-witch that Olympias has sunken her Harpy claws into."

"Stories are for fools."

"Then why do you and Alexander sleep with the Iliad under your pillows? That, my friend, is a story," he explained, rising and opening the drapes that prevented the sun from touching me. Outside I heard the large cat asking to be fed. Perhaps he would have a taste for Cassander. "They wrote everything down wrong, to make certain men look better. That is the way all history is."

"Cassander…"

"Hmm?"

"Go away," I requested. He laughed for a second and then nodded. He took the chair that he had brought over to the bed and placed it back where it belonged. Yet before he left he came and pulled the pillow away from my face. Leaning down he kissed me on the mouth, not in a loving manner but rather as a man claiming a prize would, and ran a hand over my hair.

"Try to be pleasant," he warned of me. "Alexander will turn against even you if you force him to."

A/N: Let me know what you think. As always, thank you for reading and for your reviews. They are greatly appreciated and always help writers.